Lesson Plan: Kayak Packing
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Nat Johnson
9/21/2005
Sources:
http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?93
http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?113
http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?140
http://www.sdkc.org/camping/pack.html
http://www.outdoorplay.com/headlines/report_packing.html
NOLS Sea Kayaking Instructor Notebook
Vocabulary
Bow- front of boat
Stern- rear of boat
Fore- front
Aft- rear
Deck- top of boat
Portage- carrying boat and equipment
Port- left side facing direction of travel
Starboard- right side facing direction of travel
Hatch- door-like opening in deck
Rib- supporting structural element inside boat
Key Concepts:
What to bring
Waterproof-ness
Weight distribution
Access
What to bring
- Pack essential items first
- Separate camp items from day-use items
- Items must fit into boat!
- Bulky items (tents) can be unpacked, bag inserted, then repacked if necessary
- Multiple smaller bags are easier to fit than big bags
- Compression sacks for soft gear
- Collapsible water containers
- Large bag for portage- Duluth pack or similar (lightweight)
- Food needs to stand up to lots of squishing around
- For an extended trip consider an “emergency bag” with a few essentials
Waterproof-ness:
- dry bags, nylon stuff sacks
o dry bags
§ nylon
§ vinyl
§ translucent or transparent
§ pack bottom of bag well first
- garbage bags as liners for sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent
- reduce hard cases when possible: cameras, radios
- don’t consider any part of the boat waterproof!
Weight Distribution:
- Kayak is designed with participant weight as the main weight
- Consider maximum weight limit of boat
- Keep weight central and low- similar to backpack “rainbow”
o heaviest items:
§ water
§ food
§ fuel
o lighter items:
§ clothes
§ sleeping bag
§ sleeping pad
- boat should float level when loaded- front-back and left-right
o maybe slightly more weight towards stern (aft of cockpit)
- remember that weights will change as you use supplies
- Exceptions:
o Wind
§ Headwind: try packing more weight forwards
§ Weight in ends will increase trackin
Access:- Access to the water:
o Pack boat near water!!!
o Don’t carry boat when loaded- it will fold in half
o Watch for rapidly changing tides
- Access on boat:
- On Deck:
o Concerns
§ Weight- top heavy
§ Wind will catch items, blow boat
§ Splash and surf proof
§ Will it interfere with strokes?
§ Accessibility in rough water
§ Hindrance when reentering boat from water
o Compass and map
o Spare paddle
o Water
o Sunscreen
o Basic First aid
o Camera
o Snacks
o Recovery equipment- pump, paddle float, stirrup
o PFD Pocket too- reduces flotation
- Access in boat:
- Think about when you might need things- headlamp for setting up camp?
- Readily accessible: (in cockpit)- things you would take on a day hike.
o Refill for water
o Lunch snacks
o Rain gear or dry-top
o Gear stowed around legs is safety hazard
- Below deck:
o link bags together so you can pull them all out at once
o tie cords to bags- pull cord to retrieve bag- practice golf ball on end
o pack like items together:
§ food, camp clothes, paddling clothes, cooking, boat gear, other
· food:
o by type of meal- breakfast bag, lunch bag, dinner bag
o by day- day 1, day 2
o pack everything tight so it won’t shift while paddling or when you capsize!
o Pack smaller items in ends, larger items in middle
o Never open hatches while on the water- boat could sink